do i need a new battery

[greenthumb]

I added some lights (two of the ones attached in pic) to my exmark laser z turn this winter since a few times I finish mowing after dark in the fall and early spring. here is my question. last weekend I had the lights on for awhile and the tractor started to stall out of no where. I don't know why but i shut the light switch off and the mower went back to normal. I tried it again and the same thing the engine started to kill out. My question is since i wired the light straight to the battery with a switch for the one /off what would cause this. Could the battery be so low that if it dies it kills the engine. it is the original battery in the 4 or 5 year old exmark. thanks

 

[J_J]

I added some lights (two of the ones attached in pic) to my exmark laser z turn this winter since a few times I finish mowing after dark in the fall and early spring. here is my question. last weekend I had the lights on for awhile and the tractor started to stall out of no where. I don't know why but i shut the light switch off and the mower went back to normal. I tried it again and the same thing the engine started to kill out. My question is since i wired the light straight to the battery with a switch for the one /off what would cause this. Could the battery be so low that if it dies it kills the engine. it is the original battery in the 4 or 5 year old exmark. thanks

What brand of engine. Is it magneto ignition? What is the output of the alternator on the engine? do you have a schematic of the electrical system.

 

[Duffster]

I added some lights (two of the ones attached in pic) to my exmark laser z turn this winter since a few times I finish mowing after dark in the fall and early spring. here is my question. last weekend I had the lights on for awhile and the tractor started to stall out of no where. I don't know why but i shut the light switch off and the mower went back to normal. I tried it again and the same thing the engine started to kill out. My question is since i wired the light straight to the battery with a switch for the one /off what would cause this. Could the battery be so low that if it dies it kills the engine. it is the original battery in the 4 or 5 year old exmark. thanks

You most likely need a larger alternator

 

[greenthumb]

kolar 27 hp

 

[J_J]

kolar 27 hp

greenthumb,

I believe I have an answer to your problem. Basically, you are sucking all the juice out of that battery by using those lights. Too much current draw. Here is what's happening. There is a fuel solenoid an the bottom of the carb. that needs 12 v to allow fuel to flow, and when you turn on the lights, they pull the battery down and less than 12v.

Are those 55w halogens? If so, they are pulling about 9 amps and shutting you down. You mentioned that when you turned the light off, the engine would run. I believe when you start that engine, that it will run until you short out the magneto, by turning the ign switch to off. However, if you kill the fuel, it will shut off, by fuel starvation. That's my story.

 

[Scooby074]

I think JJ's right. Your drawing too much.

Maybe try LED worklights. Lots of light, very little draw compared to halogens.

 

[RickB]

I agree the amperage draw of the mower and lights is more than the alternator is capable of putting out; and more alternatoing capacity is the "best" answer if you intend on keeping both added lighrts.

However, a part of the problem COULD be a weak battery that the alternator is struggling to recharge along with meeting the rest of the demand. If the Exmark uses the typical 'lawn & garden' battery, at 5 years of age, you are on borrowed time with it by most measures. You could try replacing it with a new battery with the highest CCA rating for that BCI group size, which is probably about 350cca's. Cheap L&G batteries can have as little as 275cca's. The extra reserve and charge holding characteristics of a new battery MAY be enough to balance the system.

 

[greenthumb]

update-- I am thinking a new batter might be a good start. I went out to mow a little bit ago without lights on since I am home before dark from work for once but happy to be working and it did it again stalled out. I had to jump it to get it going before I sarted and am on my way out to jump it in the middle of the year. The cca on the factory battery in it says 245 cca right now.

 

[Stimw]

A lot of small engines have 12V DC to charge the battery and 12V AC to run headlights. That is why when you see a mower with the lights dim it is because they have the engine running less than full throttle. The voltage drops with rpm.
You need to find out if you have the AC circuit and wire to it in stead of the battery.

 

[J_J]

His engine is a 27 HP Kohler. His lights overloaded the battery. I know some of the Kohlers come with different alternators, depending on how it is used.

greenthumb,

Is that engine a Command, Command Pro, Courage, or Courage PRO?